Exhibitions

London’s galleries and museums cater exceptionally well for children – some have even accused Tate Modern of turning into one big crèche. Most of the larger venues have art carts or backpacks to help youngsters explore their collections. And, just for summer, there are some excellent temporary exhibitions to enjoy.

Science Museum, London, SW7 2DD5th April 2008 - 2nd November 2008
Kids in classrooms today are the ones who'll inherit the planet in fifty years' time - educating them about the problems that come with it seems like a very good idea. And that's exactly what The Science of Survival exhibition at the Science Museum aims to do. With the help of interactive displays and through cartoon characters, Buz, Eco, Tek and Dug, the impact we have on our environment and the strain on global resources is made clear. Fast forward to the futuristic world of 2050 and you'll see how we could be living. Areas are divided into Drinking, Eating, Enjoying, Moving and Building, each is addressed in terms of balancing human needs with resources. In the Moving area, for example, alternative vehicle fuels are explored including plants, electricity and hydrogen. The decisions you make as you travel through the exhibition all contribute to how the Future City looks at the end. The message is a positive one: we can still affect climate change for the better in the future by the decisions we make today.

Natural History Museum, East Lawn, London, SW7 5BD5th April 2008 - 17th August 2008
April to September is when butterflies emerge from their cocoons. If you go to the East Lawn of the Natural History Museum during this time you can live through their whole lifecycle. Enter the maze as a caterpillar and, avoiding the poisonous plants and predators, collect the special stamps as you go. If successful, you'll emerge - just like a butterfly - at the butterfly house where you can walk among the real-life tropical butterflies from America, Africa and Asia. Visitors inspired by what they've seen are encouraged to get involved in The Butterfly Monitoring Scheme where volunteers register the number and type of butterflies along a two to four-kilometre route. Go to www.ukbms.org to register and to www.butterfly-conservation.org for more information.

Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Museum Hall, London, SW5 9TA20th March 2008 - 18th September 2008
The time travelling Doctor lands his TARDIS outside Earls Court Exhibition Centre for the largest ever Doctor Who display in the UK. Head to the Museum Hall, beneath the Exhibition Centre, to see props, costumes, monsters and creatures from all the latest episodes of the hit BBC TV show. Memorabilia includes set pieces from the fourth series starring David Tennant as the Timelord and comedian Catherine Tate and with guest appearances from Billie Piper. On display are the famous blue phonebox the TARDIS, trusty sidekick K9 and a clutch of the Doctor's famous enemies, the Daleks being the most terrifying among them. A treat for dedicated fans of the Doctor. The Museum Hall entrance is opposite West Brompton Tube station.